uk chemical regulation
Credit: Nick D-J/Flickr

New agency needed to tackle UK chemical regulation gaps

Experts warn that "uncontrolled chemicals" threaten both public health and the environment in the UK, prompting the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) to advocate for a new Chemicals Agency to oversee regulation.

Esme Stallard reports for the BBC.


In short:

  • The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) urges the UK to establish a Chemicals Agency to regulate harmful chemicals, citing gaps in current regulations post-Brexit.
  • Delays in setting up a new chemical regulation system have left industries like cosmetics and agriculture in uncertainty.
  • Growing evidence shows toxic "forever chemicals" accumulating in UK soil and waterways, linked to severe health issues like cancer and infertility.

Key quote:

“The current regulatory regime for chemicals in the UK is not fit-for-purpose, failing to support innovation or to adequately protect our waterways, soil, air and built environment.”

— Professor Gillian Reid, president of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Why this matters:

Regulating harmful chemicals is essential for protecting public health and the environment. The absence of a cohesive strategy endangers ecosystems and exposes the public to potential health risks. Read more: The chemical industry may have killed a landmark EU chemical policy. Here’s what that means for the US.

About the author(s):

EHN Curators
EHN Curators
Articles curated and summarized by the Environmental Health News' curation team. Some AI-based tools helped produce this text, with human oversight, fact checking and editing.

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